Vladimir Guerrero is a walking dichotomy, passive off the field but aggressive on it, a humble star with the Superman game and everyman personality.

What’s clear is this: He’s one of the game’s best players, and he probably should’ve been playing this year in New York.

His initial offseason demands scared off most teams. The Yanks flirted with him while George Steinbrenner was clashing with Gary Sheffield. The Mets offered only an incentive-laden contract, publicly questioning his bad back. Wonder if they regret that now?

Guerrero, who doubled home a run in the first inning and homered in the sixth last night, signed a five-year, $70 million deal with the Angels, whom he led to a 22-10 mark – the best in baseball – before into last night. He was hitting .333 with six homers, 24 RBIs and was in the AL Top 10 in runs, RBI, hits and slugging. Back this.

“I think I proved [by] the fact that I came back and played strong that it wasn’t going to be an issue. So far I’m feeling pretty strong,” Guerrero said through Jose Mota of Angels’ Spanish Radio.

“The community in Anaheim I fell in love with immediately. [And] these guys had won before. I have a lot of family in New York, and it’s a good community, too. But being in Anaheim, I’m much more comfortable.”

Guerrero said the fact that Angels owner Arte Moreno is Hispanic – the first minority owner in baseball – played a “big part” in his signing. Of the Mets’ publicly talking about his back injury, he demurred, “I have nothing to say about that.”

Guerrero with nothing to say isn’t rare. His Angel teammates talk about how shy and quiet he is, and manager Mike Scioscia has tried to draw him out by talking to him in broken “Spanglish” something Guerrero appreciates.

While Tim Salmon seemed pleasantly surprised at Guerrero’s humility, he was most amazed at the free-swinger’s plate coverage, that he could hit homers off pitches nearly in the dirt or up at the letters.

“He’s amazing. He’s so aggressive,” Salmon said. “It’s [like] when we were kids playing in the backyard. He has the ability to do that at this level,” Salmon said. “I don’t think it matters who’s on the mound: They’re just a vehicle to deliver the ball.”

And while Scioscia quipped, “He checked his swing four times on an intentional walk,” he said “watching him work, it reinforced why he’s such a great player. He has a terrific amount of talent, and you see how it translates into incredible production.”